People have been collecting and trading baseball cards for more than a century, but that doesn’t mean this fun hobby hasn’t kept up with technology. If you’re not using a scanner to digitize your cards, you’re missing out on a key tool for managing your collection. Here are five reasons you should organize your prized possessions with a sports card scanner today.
1. Cataloging With Scanners
When you’ve got a large collection, maintaining an accurate inventory of every card you own becomes an overwhelming task. Keeping index cards, lists, or other filing systems up to date as cards move in and out of your possession is challenging, and it’s easy to lose track of what you hold at any given moment without flawless organization.
By using a scanner, you create an instant digital record of every piece of your collection. It’s easier to sort through and identify what you have and to update your records as soon as a card enters or leaves your collection.
2. Minimizing Handling
Dedicated collectors know that excessively handling cards is a surefire way to damage, stain, or even misplace something of significant value. The less you touch your cards, the better.
That’s why using a high-quality scanner like the fi-8170 to capture double-sided imagery is the best way to cut back on handling. You’ll create clear digital copies of all your cards, allowing you to review, arrange, and manipulate your collection without having to touch a single item.
3. Allowing for Safer Storage
If you’ve got high-value cards in your collection, you worry about more than what handling does to them. Keeping them at home raises concerns about everything from theft to environmental damage, so using a safe deposit box or specialized repository is a better choice for protecting your investment. Once you’ve scanned your cards, you can move them to a safer location while still being able to access them digitally.
4. Protecting Your Assets
Any possessions of great value should be insured. By creating a digital image of everything in your collection, you’ll have an accurate accounting of each card you own so you’re appropriately compensated in case of damage or theft.
5. Facilitating Sales and Trades
While managing and safeguarding your collection are key reasons to scan your cards, don’t overlook the value of having digital images at your fingertips when it’s time to sell or trade. With scanning, your cards are always ready to be posted on an exchange site or shown to a potential buyer. Plus, when you’re looking to add to your collection, your digitized files provide an easy reference point to determine if you already own something that catches your eye.
Now that you know how smart it is to scan your baseball card collection, it’s time to get started. Find the perfect scanner by visiting the website of a trusted online retailer to view options like the Fujitsu ScanSnap series and other top models. Choose the scanner that suits your needs and budget, and before you know it, your collection will be fully digitized!